Technically ("legalese"), a
health care proxy is the document one uses to specify an
agent (some person)
to make health care decisions for you when you are unable to do so yourself, based on what you have expressed in your
advance care planning document.
However, most people, speaking casually, use the
term "health care proxy" to also refer to this agent. So,
Your health care proxy interprets your advance care planning document
to
the medical personnel caring for you when you cannot speak for yourself.
This agent, your health care proxy, is also sometimes known as a
health care representative or
health care surrogate.
As the box above indicates, your health care proxy interacts with the medical personal caring for you, being guided by what you have written in your advance care planning document. So you
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Choosing a healthcare proxy [Compassion & Choices]
Here are some qualities to look for in a proxy:
They are assertive. You want someone who is comfortable speaking with healthcare providers and advocating for you.
They are comfortable having difficult conversations and discussing topics like illness and death.
They will respect your decisions and wishes for your care. They understand where you’re coming from, are familiar with your advance directive, and are willing to honor your requests.
They live nearby. In a crisis, having someone local is often important.
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** What you want
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Choosing a healthcare proxy [Compassion & Choices]
Exclusions
** Who you cannot/should not -- detail who [Google]
National Institute on Aging - Choosing A Health Care Proxy
American Bar Association generally recommends not choosing:
Your health care provider or their spouse, employee, or spouse of an employee
The owner or operator of your health or residential care facility or someone working for a government agency financially responsible for your care
A professional evaluating your ability to make decisions
Your court-appointed guardian or conservator
Someone who serves as a health care proxy for 10 or more other people
Choosing/Finding a Proxy
To select a person as your health care proxy, you would want to be confident that they would act to express
your wishes in the extreme event where you could not.
Typically, people designate their health care proxy to be a spouse, partner, other family member, or a close friend as their health care proxy. However, it is not uncommon that a person finds themself in circumstances where they don't have a health care proxy, and moreover, there is no one immediately in their life they could ask to server as their proxy. [Press the Choosing/Finding a Proxy button above]
The relationship between your health care proxy and your emergency contact.
** [to be done] Relationship of your health care proxy and your emergency contact
Your health care proxy may or may not be the same as the person who is your emergency contact.
Wrapping up the paperwork
Resources: Choosing a Proxy
Resources: On Being a Proxy
Your Guide to Being a Health Care Proxy